Anti-Catholic: New mega-movie "2012" is directed by one

Like Matthew Archbold at Catholic Minority Report, "I'm a movie guy." So yes, I was mildly interested in the new movie coming out this weekend "2012". 

Mr. Archbold, however, has noticed something, er, a bit odd about the subject matter for many of the scenes in the movie's trailer - how many Catholic icons/people do you see get destroyed?

Matthew caught at least six, and that got him searching on Google:

Roland Emmerich, the director, is, according to numerous sources, openly gay and an activist liberal. But hey, it's Hollywood, who isn't?

I wondered if this guy has some sort of distaste for things Catholic. And darn it but what do I find? I warn you this is kinda weird.

In a closet in his house, Mr. Emmerich has a statue of Pope John Paul II laughing while reading his own obituary. That's right. Pope John Paul II. In a closet. Laughing while reading his own obituary. You don't believe me, right? Well, look and see.

Matthew uncovered more truly bazaar stuff about Emmerich, which I'll leave up to you to find out. But it's pretty clear: this twisted individual has decided to bankroll his Church-destroying fantasies on a big Hollywood budget. Let's not help him defray his costs.

Besides, it's scoring in the low 30's on movie meta-review website Rotten Tomatoes, so it's not like you're missing out on the movie of the year or anything.

Offbeat: Vatican sponsors conference on extraterrestrial life - Alien reunification imminent?

A series of study sessions this week on the topic of astrobiology sponsored by the Vatican Observatory and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences is drawing all sorts of silly speculation and headlines in the mainstream press - everything from "Does Jesus save aliens?" to "ET calls the pope?"

The Catholic News Service story provides a fairly sober analysis of what was actually discussed in the meetings. 

And for those seriously interested in the theological implications of extraterrestrial life, the senior apologist at Catholic Answers Live, Jimmy Akin, has actually spent a good deal of time thinking about the subject. Maybe drop him an email.

Weird: Controversial Doll Lets Little Girls Pretend to Breast-Feed

You had your chance. I warned you today would be a weird news day:

A controversial new doll is leaving some parents wishing for the good old Cabbage Patch days.

A Spanish toymaker known as Berjuan has developed a breast-feeding doll that comes with a special halter top its young "mothers" wear as they pretend to breast-feed their "babies." The halter top has daisies that cover the little girls’ nipples and come undone just as easily as the flaps of a nursing bra would.

The doll — called Bebe Gloton, which translates as “gluttonous baby” — makes sucking noises as it "feeds."

Like many other dolls, Bebe Gloton can cry, signaling she wants more milk.

Although many health care providers promote the benefits of breast-feeding, parents around the world have criticized Berjuan, saying the idea of breast-feeding is too grown-up for young children -- and may even promote early pregnancy. (FOX News)

Promoting early pregnancy? Now that's a big stretch.

But I'm curious, does everyone agree this doll is an all-round bad idea?

Canon Law and Lunar Landings

To clever to pass up on passing on:

"There's a story here in Baltimore about our beloved Archbishop-emeritus-emeritus, William D. Borders. He was ordained bishop in 1968 and made the first Bishop of Orlando, Florida. The new diocese encompassed central Florida and included Cape Canaveral, from where, the following year, Apollo 11 launched, bound for the moon. 

After that historic launch and lunar landing, with all the images of our astronauts walking, golfing, and planting the flag, Borders made an ad limina visit to Rome to meet with Paul VI. During their meeting, Borders rather nonchalantly observed, "You know, Holy Father, I am the bishop of the Moon." Pope Paul looked at him rather perplexed - probably wondering where along the line this American prelate lost his mind. Borders then continued by explaining that by the existing (1917) Code of Canon Law, he was the de facto ordinary of this "newly discovered" territory." 

- Jesus Goes to Disney World: Finding Christ in Popular Culture

Important: Is the White House mocking pro-lifers?

AmP reader Chris emailed me:

You may remember sometime ago there was an empty envelope campaign where folks on the side of the unborn were encourage to send an empty envelope to the white house, with the message "this envelope represents a life lost to abortion" or something along that line. My wife sent an empty envelope. In our mailbox today, was an empty envelope with the return address "The White House, Washington, DC, 20500." There is no message inside nor on the back. It is hand-addressed to my wife

Here is a picture of the letter she received:

She blogs about the experience here (the comments are also interesting). 

I'd be interested to find out if others who sent empty envelopes to the White House received an empty one back. It's an odd coincidence, to say the least.

If some snarky intern did indeed think this would be a fun way to get back at pro-lifers, I think Chris and his wife are owed a second letter - an official apology.

Friday wierd: "Roman Catholic Priestess" dragged from Air Force One

I couldn't have written it better had I tried:

A reporter for a small newspaper was forcibly removed from a press area near Air Force One shortly before President Barack Obama arrived at Los Angeles International Airport to depart California early Thursday.

Airport security officers carried the woman away by the feet and arms as she protested her removal.

... She said she asked a Secret Service agent to give the president her letter, but he refused and referred her to a White House staffer. Lee said she refused to give the staffer the letter.

"I said, 'I'll take my chances if (the president) comes by here,'" said Lee, who identified herself as a Roman Catholic priestess who lives in Anaheim, Calif. "He became annoyed that I wouldn't give him the letter."

Lee, who was wearing what she described as a cassock, said she protested when she was asked to leave. (NBC Los Angeles)

Her reason for trying to reach Obama? She wanted him to take a stand for traditional marriage.

How about taking a stand for the traditional priesthood for a start?

Green: Vatican To Build 100 Megawatt Solar Power Plant

There's money in the Vatican budget for this?

"The Vatican is going solar in a big way. The tiny state recently announced that it intends to spend 660 million dollars to create what will effectively be Europe's largest solar power plant. This massive 100 megawatt photovoltaic installation will provide enough energy to make the Vatican the first solar powered nation state in the world! 'The 100 megawatts unleashed by the station will supply about 40,000 households. That will far outstrip demand by Pope Benedict XVI and the 900 inhabitants of the 0.2 square-mile country nestled across Rome's Tiber River. The plant will cover nine times the needs of Vatican Radio, whose transmission tower is strong enough to reach 35 countries including Asia.'" (Slashdot)

Quote:

“Now is the time to strike,” Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican City’s governor, said in an interview from his study overlooking the Michelangelo-designed Basilica of St. Peter’s. “One should take advantage of the crisis to try and develop these renewable-energy sources to the maximum, which in the long run will reap incomparable rewards.” (Bloomberg)

What's next, an electric popemobile?

Solarworld executives in November said it was time to think about a “green” popemobile and offered to give the pope a low- emissions electric car to replace the white armored Mercedes- Benz open-top G-Class used by the Vatican.

While there has been no switchover since then, Lajolo at the time called an electric popemobile a “brilliant idea. If it costs less and can set an example, why not?”

Doh!

Picture: What does this look like to you?

What does this look like to you? It's an advertisement in the Washington DC metro system:

To me, it looks like a monstrance with a consecrated Host inside it.

Now, I have seen another version of this advertisment where the "Host" is actually a reflective material (thus the "picture yourself" tagline). But still, it's a very oddly-shaped "mirror."

And as a Catholic, well, the image if very arresting ... even kind of disconcerting.

[photo: AmP reader WAC]

Vatican headline: "La sostenibile leggerezza dei ... Fab two" (?!)

AmP reader Thomas explains:

"This is driving me nuts. Can you post a translation of what this story's about? I presume the L'Oservatore Romano is knocking the Beatles reunion for being a fundraiser for Transcendental Meditation as a cure for what ails youth ... but I'd like to know that."

Well, here's what Google translation makes of it, for a start.

Any Italian translators in our midst (with time to burn)?

End of the week chuckle post

Only, in this day and age, the chuckle posts contain quotes from real articles:

Catholic Denomination Says Gay Priests Are OK

An alternative Catholic denomination is ordaining openly gay priests, but will such rogue religious groups ever be recognized by the papacy?

In a recent service that looked nearly identical to a traditional Roman Catholic mass, four priests were ordained at Yale’s Dwight Chapel in New Haven, Conn. But three of the new priests are openly gay men, something the Catholic Church has refused to allow.

My internal "errors-per-sentence" counter is going crazy!

Krispy Kreme Celebrates Obama with Free “Freedom of Choice” Donuts

The doughnut giant released the following statement yesterday (underlining mine):

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies -- just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet "free" can be.

Commentary from ALL President Judie Brown.

Even though I walk right by a Krispy Kreme every day, I'll have readers know that AmP runs on dunkin'.

Westminster Abbey adds Hindu snowmen to Christmas displays

'Tis the season ... to be kooky:

Some Anglican clergy have added a multicultural twist to Christmas decorations, adding Hindu snowmen, a Chinese dragon and a Jewish temple to the lawn where the traditional scene of a baby Jesus, angels, and the three wise men used to be displayed alone.

“Strictly speaking, the message of Christmas is about the birth of Christ, but it has a much broader message of peace and goodwill,” said Hedges.

Westminster Abbey will showcase life-size snowmen with turbans and bindi dots on their foreheads to send out the message that Christmas is not exclusively for Christians.

The Diocese of Liverpool will stage a nativity that features a Chinese dragon and lantern procession. (Christian Today)

Aside from providing good "photo caption call" fodder, this is such malarkey.

... though I'd love to see the Chinese Dragon take on the Hindu snowmen!

(Related: Barack and Michelle Obama are appearing in Italian nativity scenes this year.)

And if you're looking for a little sanity in all this madness, run to Fr. James Schall:

".... my theory about the elimination of Christmas is more subtle than just prejudice or bigotry, which also exists. “Tis the season to be jolly.” You cannot celebrate something for no reason. All holidays were originally holy days. Celebrations could not be something simply “man-made.” They have to arise out of what is unexpected, startling, transcendent, too good to be true. We do not have holidays just to have holidays..."

And we don't put up Nativity Scenes just to get rid of that extra wood we had lying in the back yard.

Stupid Stocking Stuffer: Chocolate Jesus

German churches have criticized a businessman for selling thousands of chocolates shaped like Jesus.

The candies come from Frank Oynhausen’s "Sweet Lord" chocolate-making business, which wraps the figures in gold foil.

“I started thinking about how I could reintroduce traditional religious values into this commercial world," Oynhausen states on his web site.

The figures at present are custom-produced, costing about $190 for almost a quarter pound. Oynhausen expressed hopes of mass producing the product and exporting it for sale in countries such as the U.S.

The German Protestant Church criticized the idea as “tasteless.”

Aegidius Engel, a spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn, was also critical, saying:

"It is terrible that Jesus is being wrapped up in gold foil and sold along with chocolate bunnies, edible penguins and lollipops."

"This is ruining the symbol of Jesus himself," he added, according to Reuters. (CNA)

Barf.

Visit your Jesuit U. Spirit Shop ... at Victoria's Secret

*cringe*

Boston College in flap over lingerie ... Critics: Biz deal with Victoria’s Secret ‘disgraceful’:

BC spokesman Jack Dunn said the school was “very selective” when it agreed to let Victoria’s Secret sell BC sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts and flip-flops as part of the racy chain’s youth-oriented Pink line.

“We thought it was a tasteful line of clothing that college students wear,” he said.

“We never authorized undergarments,” he said.

Yeah! Victoria's Secret wanting to sell undergarments? I'm sure that threw everyone for a loop.

Ph/t: Diogenes.

Video: NARAL tries for Hippie, arrives at Confusing

You've got to be kidding. This has to be the wierdest video I've seen in a long while. What's more, it was put together by the radical pro-abortion group NARAL. Considering it your Friday Zen Bad Trip:



This Suzy B blogger is as equally freaked out as I am.

Picture: St. Louis Claims First *Pregnant* Catholic Priest

RiverFrontTimes:

"A little over a year ago, 26-year-old Jessica Rowley shattered the stained-glass ceiling, so to speak, by being ordained a Catholic priest. Now the St. Louisan is on the verge of giving birth to her first child, and a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates for women’s ordination says that makes Rowley the world’s first pregnant Catholic priest."

Her husband is a United Church of Christ minister. So which church will the baby be baptized in?

"That's a good question," says Rowley, with a laugh. "It's a topic of conversation in our home a lot. We're going to baptize him in both churches."

Why, of course! Why didn't I think of that? I'm so narrow-minded with my solutions sometimes....

Friday Wierd: Bees are eating Lichfield Cathedral

The Victim:

The Culprit:

The Story: Bees are eating Lichfield Cathedral (UK Times)

Goldman Sachs kneels to Pelosi

I'm not making this up, from Politico:

And when Democrats left after the meeting to caucus in the Roosevelt Room, Paulson pursued them, begging that they not “blow up” the legislation.

The former Goldman Sachs CEO even went down on one knee as if genuflecting, to which Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) is said to have joked, “I didn’t know you were Catholic.”

That's funny, Madame Speaker, I wasn't sure you were, either.

Why you have to love World Net Daily

I mean, where else can you read stories like this?

"New experiments in genetic engineering could open the doors for the return of fearsome "giants" described in the Bible – the offspring of human women and fallen angels – warns author Thomas Horn in his best-selling book, "Nephilim Stargates: The Year 2012 and the Return of the Watchers."

In the Book of Genesis, beings of great stature called "giants" appear, which some biblical scholars believe came into existence after powerful angels known as 'Watchers' descended to earth and used women (or their biological matter) to construct bodies of flesh, which they used to "extend" themselves into the material world."

I for one welcome our new Nephilim overlords....

Humane Society endorses Obama, dislikes Palin

And they included these comparison pictures between Obama and Palin:


The Weekly Standard blog explains:

"All Animals Are Equal, But ... wolves are more equal than caribou, says the Humane Society in its endorsement of Barack Obama. The Humane Society Legislative Fund's president writes that the group has never before endorsed a presidential candidate, but Sarah Palin simply poses too great of a threat to animals."

Maybe they didn't hear that Obama has gone spearfishing before - and enjoyed it! McCain fishes catfish.

It's a good thing popes have never needed the endorsement of the HS because I'm fairly sure most of them have hunted live game at some point in their life. Can anyone back up my hunch (say, with a photo)?

Archbishop Myer's Sci-Fi novel "Space Vulture" released

I hope you've had your morning coffee.

As I mentioned way back in early 2007, Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark has been working on a sci-fi novel (or more accurately, "space opera") in his spare time called Space Vulture. He co-wrote it with his friend, Gary K. Wolfe, who is also the creator of Roger Rabbit....

No, I'm not kidding. See for yourself....

And read for yourself, if you feel so inclined:

The product description:

After a lifetime of friendship, two small-town boys who grew to have very different lives and careers have teamed up to travel back in time and conquer the universe. Determined to recapture the science fiction of their youth-not as it was, but as it should have been-Gary K. Wolf, the creator of Roger Rabbit, and his best friend, John J. Myers, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, now transport readers to the far reaches of the galaxy. There, the mere mention of the pirate known as Space Vulture strikes fear into every heart. A hardworking colonist's only hope is that the dauntless lawman, Marshal Victor Corsaire, will rocket to the rescue. Come along for the ride and discover all the adventure, suspense, wonder, and fun that Wolf and Myers first found in science fiction fifty years ago, and now share with everyone in this rollicking tale of the spaceways.

(Someone should tell the Sci-Fi Catholic to pen a review for us.)

There is an entire website devoted to the book and its authors: http://www.spacevulture.com/

Rocco posted on this story when it first was made public, and over the weekend.

Jeff Diamant conducted an extended interview with Abp. Myers. The accompanying photo to the story?

Yes - it's real, too.

I really wonder if this is how an archbishop should spend his time .... Diogenes sure doesn't think so.

Anyone have a counter-point to add?

update - I really can't help but wonder how Space Vulture would do against Prince of Space?

update 2 - CNA reports.

"Pagans pray to goddess Athena in rare gathering at the Parthenon"

From the "extended ecumenical dialogue" beat:

Defying police presence and a thunderous downpour, dozens of Greek pagans huddled near the Parthenon in Athens on Sunday, holding a protest prayer for a museum being built at the foot of the sacred site.

“Oh, goddess,” roared high priestess Doretta Peppa, her hands extending over an offering of water and olive oil. “We are ready to defend your grounds.

... On Sunday, about 200 people, by Peppa’s estimate, prayed to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and patron of ancient Athens, to protect the 2,500-year-old site and spare the city from harm.

“Is it a coincidence that rain started falling when the ceremony started and ended at the same time as the ceremony? I think not,” Peppa said. (CNN)

Wait, she was praying for rain? What happened to sparing the city from harm?

Friar meets Heavy Metal, Knight of Malta meets Metal Head

Consider this your end-of-the week news-of-the-strange post. And its a double header!

First up, the heavy metal-loving capuchin friar from Milan, Italy:

The story behind the "music" [ph/t: Christopher Blosser]:

Brother Cesare Bonizzi is a Capuchin friar in Milan who rocks out. He got into heavy metal 15 years ago at a… Metallica concert!

“I was overwhelmed and amazed by the sheer energy of it” he tells the BBC.
He began fronting a metal band, howling above the din, his white beard and friar’s hood swaying to the heavy beat.

The heavy metal monk says he would like to send his new CD to a certain lover of Mozart who lives in Rome.

“He is a music lover and metal is music!” Bonizzi says. (Blogging Religiously)

And before you regain your sense of propriety, the "Metalhead bassist at night, Sovereign Knight of Malta by day" which is documented on Blabbermouth.net [ph/t: AmP reader Paul]:

"As part of the official delegation of the "Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of Autonomous Priories", MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio presented an Award of Merit on Sunday, July 20 in Timisoara Transylvania), Romania to world-famous Spanish tenor José Carreras hailing his artistic career achievements and lifetime philanthropic works. "

[Here's a better photo of him - sure looks like a metal head to me...]

It's my sincere hope that you don't witness anything stranger today than this posting.

Vatican Chief Astronomer: "The extraterrestrial is my brother"

Okay, that's how the headline of the article read, reportes the Associated Press.

Hmm, can we say "slow news day"?

CNA has a good summary of what happened:

The Director of the Vatican's Observatory, Fr. José Gabriel Funes, said in an interview with the Vatican daily, L'Osservatore Romano, that believing in the possible existence of extraterrestrial life is not opposed to Catholic doctrine.

.... The astronomer began the interview titled, "The Alien is my Brother," by saying that, "Astronomy has a profound human value. It is a science that opens the heart and the mind. It helps us to put our lives, our hopes, our problems in the right perspective. In this regard, and here I speak as a priest and a Jesuit, it is an apostolic instrument that can bring us closer to God", said Fr. Funes in the interview.

Fr. Roderick translates the portions of the article that treat the implications of extraterrestial life:

Do you refer also to beings similar to us, or even more evolved?

It’s possible. However, so far we haven’t got any proof. But in such a big universe, this hypothesis can’t be excluded.

And that wouldn’t be a problem for our faith?

I don’t think so. Just like there is an abundance of creatures on earth, there could also be other beings, even intelligent ones, that were created by God. That doesn’t contradict our faith, because we cannot put boundaries to God’s creative freedom. As saint Francis would say, when we consider the earthly creatures to be our “brothers” and “sisters”, why couldn’t we also talk about a “extraterrestrial brother”? He would still be part of creation.

And what about redemption?

Let’s borrow the image from the gospel about the lost sheep. The shepherd leaves the 99 of the sheepfold to search for the one that got lost. Let’s imagine that in this universe there are 100 sheep, corresponding to the different forms of creatures. We who belong to the human race, could very well be the lost sheep, the sinners that need the shepherd. Got has become man in Jesus to save us. In that way, even when other intelligent beings exist, it’s not said that they would need redemption. They might have stayed in full friendship with their Creator.

I insist: when they would, on the contrary, be sinners, would redemption also be possible for them?

Jesus incarnated once and for all. The incarnation is a unique and non-repeatable event. However, I am certain that they too, in one way or another, would have the possibility to experience God’s mercy, just like we men have.

I think Curt Jester has the perfect response to this .... "The Star Wars Ewok Gospel":


Well, whatever happens, just keep a towel handy on Thursdays, eh?

Vatican allows injured bishop of Gallup Pelotte to resign

Finally:

"The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Gallup, U.S.A. presented by Bishop Donald E. Pelotte S.S.S., in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law." (VIS)

The wierd backstory:

Last July, Bishop Pelotte, the first American Indian bishop ever appointed, suffered from a fall at his home in Gallup, New Mexico. The fall caused head injury and heavy bruising across his face, chest, both arms, knuckles, legs, and feet.

While doctors and news agencies speculated that the injuries were more consistent with an assault than a fall down a staircase, the bishop insisted that he was not attacked by anyone.

A few months later, the bishop made the news again when he called the police to report four "gentle little people, about 3 to 4 feet tall, and wearing Halloween masks" who refused to leave his home. (CNA)

Local coverage:

Pelotte returned to Gallup Sept. 21 after receiving treatment in Arizona, Texas and Florida. He left Gallup again on Dec. 13 for further medical treatment, diocese officials have said. They have declined to say where Pelotte is recovering.

The Vatican granted Pelotte a one-year medical leave and the pope appointed Diocese of Phoenix Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gallup.

Olmsted will run the Diocese of Gallup until Pelotte's successor is appointed and installed.

The diocese encompasses all of San Juan and McKinley counties in New Mexico and most of northeastern Arizona. (AP)

My previous posts on this story as it was developing here. It's a strange one, for sure.

I'm glad to see the Vatican has officially allowed him to resign so the diocese can move on.

update: Diogenes bemoans the lack of (elsewhere-touted) "transparency" in all this.

JP2's flair for the dramatic and imprudent Vatican TV endorsement

Headline seen on Drudge:

"Holy Smoke! Vatican TV claims image is Pope John Paul II waving from beyond grave... "

Which leads to this article from the UK Daily Mail: "Is this Pope John Paul II waving from beyond the grave? Vatican TV director says yes". Here is the image side-by-side with its supposed counterpart:

The details of the claim(s):

This fiery figure is being hailed as Pope John Paul II making an appearance beyond the grave.

The image, said by believers to show the Holy Father with his right hand raised in blessing, was spotted during a ceremony in Poland to mark the second anniversary of his death.

Details appeared on the Vatican News Service, a TV station in Rome which specialises in religious news broadcasts.

Service director Jarek Cielecki, a Polish priest and close friend of John Paul II, travelled to Poland after hearing an onlooker had photographed the image.

Father Cielecki said he was convinced the picture showed the former pontiff.
"You can see the image of a person in the flames and I think it is the servant of God, Pope John Paul II," he said.

The pictures were being broadcast continuously on Italian TV and also posted on religious websites, some of which crashed as thousands logged on to see for themselves the eerie figure formed by the flames.

The bonfire was lit during a service at Beskid Zywiecki, close to John Paul's birthplace at Katowice, southern Poland, on April 2 - the second anniversary of his death.

Hundreds had attended the ceremony. Gregorz Lukasik, the Polish man who took the photographs, said: "It was only afterwards when I got home and looked at the pictures that I realised I had something.

"I showed them to my brother and sister and they, like me, were convinced the flames had formed the image of Pope John Paul II.

"I was so happy with the picture that I showed it to our local bishop who said that Pope John Paul had made many pilgrimages during his life and he was still making them in death."

I think it's irresponsible for Fr. Cielecki to be encouraging this form of psuedo-mysticism, (let alone giving it airtime on Vatican TV?!). This kind of thing does nothing to disabuse non-Catholics of their (mis)conception that religion is based on nothing more than emotional spiritualism.

If a still photograph brings to mind the memory of our late Pope, that's one thing. It's another thing entirely to claim that a (presumed) saint in heaven actually intended to manifest his presence through a bonfire.

Really, this ranks right up there with the "Virgin Mary Toast", which sold for $28,000.

And let's face it, if JP2 was going to show himself I think he'd to it with a bit more flair.

Update: Ya learn somethin' every day. There's a name for this: Paraidolia! (ph/t: New Advent)

Transcript of Bp. Pelotte's 911 call

Fairly clear evidence that Bp. Pelotte is in need of medical/psychological treatment:

Below is a copy of portions of the conversation Pelotte had with a 911 dispatcher.

Dispatcher: "Can you tell me what happened?"
Pelotte: "They're just moving. They've been quiet. They've been going upstairs in the bedrooms and hiding behind the artifacts. But they don't talk."
(Pelotte tells the dispatcher that the people in his home are wearing masks.)
Dispatcher: "What kind of masks do they have?"
Pelotte: "Ma'am, I don't have the time to tell you. You'll see it for yourself. Please send somebody over here."
Dispatcher: "Do they still have their masks on?"
Pelotte: "It's pretty hard to decide what the issue is. But I can't leave them here overnight."

The most recent update update (Sep 21) from the Diocese of Gallup website indicates that Pelotte had not yet returned to the administration of his diocese after the injuries he sustained in July. The diocese has since remained in the care of the Vicar General.

While people have been trying to make the best of Bp. Pelotte's actions throughout these events, postulating everything from demonic activity to malicious hoaxing upon his person, I think we should keep in mind that there's no shame whatsoever in a Bishop suffering a psychological disorder or trauma. We should continue to pray that he gets the help he needs.

Furthermore, I would hope that the Church officials in Gallup quickly give an update on the bishop's condition to the members of the diocese. They deserve it.

Ph/t: Diogenes.

Bp. Pelotte of Gallup - mentally unbalanced?

Pelotte, who's been swimming in a sea of media controversy, seems to be sunk:

Gallup police reported a bizarre set of circumstances following a recent emergency call to the home of Roman Catholic Bishop Donald Pelotte.

The most recent event happened Thursday when Gallup police reported receiving an emergency call from Pelotte, 62. An incident report from the McKinley Metropolitan Dispatch Authority reported that Pelotte told operators "...gentle little people, about 3 to 4 feet tall, and wearing Halloween masks" were in the hall. The dispatch log reported that Pelotte said he hid in a closet while the people were in his home.

The report said Pelotte offered conflicting information about the people who he said were in his home.

At one point, he said one person came to visit and the others also came inside. He also described them as strangers and said they had been there three hours and didn't want to leave.

Police report they never found anyone inside Pelotte's home. [source.]

This isn't a joke.

From the article: "The diocese told reporters in Gallup that priests who consult Pelotte will make decisions concerning his involvement in the church."

Of course, decisions pertaining to the removal of a bishop aren't ultimately made by the priests of the diocese. But certainly, when your Bishop starts having psychotic episodes, it's time to call Rome.

Ph/t: Rocco.